Cultural Relativism and Cultural Diffusion for Mutual Understanding and Respect among Silk-road Cultures
Chul-In Yoo President, The Korean Society for Cultural Anthropology Professor, Jeju National University, Korea
The 2nd General Assembly of the Silk-road Universities Network, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Seoul, Korea, August 9, 2016
1 Anthropology
• The study of human beings or humanity
• Studies cultures all over the world in order to understand the similarities and differences among human beings
2 The prominence of anthropology
• in a society as well as in an academia
• Only 11 anthropology programs among over 200 universities and graduate schools in Korea
3 4 Ethnocentrism • Human beings everywhere consider their own behavior not only right, but also natural.
5 6 7 • Ethnocentric when we view other cultures through the lens of our own culture • Never understand a people’s behavior if we insist on judging it first
8 Cultural Relativism
• A people’s values and customs must be understood in terms of the culture of which they are a part.
• No universal standards by which all cultures may be evaluated • Different cultures should be understood in the light of their own standards.
9 Culture is changing.
• Every cultural pattern has its origin.
• Almost every item in every known culture has been borrowed from some other culture.
10 Cultural Diffusion
• The borrowing or diffusion involves invention in the sense that the diffused Localization: the menu of McDonald’s elements are somewhat modified.
• McDonaldization: worldwide homogenization of cultures
11 (example 1) Reinterpretation and Local Invention: Eating at McDonald’s
commensality as sharing a rice-based meal, particularly as sharing side dishes in Korea 12 Silk Road • Geographical distribution of cultural traits and patterns is affected by patterns of communication between peoples and by the existence of natural barriers.
13 (example 2) Shared rather than similar elements: Intangible Cultural Heritage
• Azerbaijani Mugham (Azerbaijan) • Iraqi Maqam (Iraq) • Shashmaqom music (Uzbekistan and Tajikistan) • Radif of Iranian music (Iran)
14 Azerbaijani Mugham : Representative List (2008)
• A traditional musical form, characterized by a large degree of improvisation • This musical genre shares artistic characteristics with the Iraqi Maqam, the Persian Radif and the Turkish Makams.
15 Iraqi Maqam : Representative List (2008) • Encompasses a vast repertory of songs, accompanied by traditional instruments • Closely linked, in structure and instrumentation, to the family of traditional musical forms practiced in Iran, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan
16 Shashmaqom music : Representative List (2008)
• The classical music tradition of Shashmaqom : Tajikistan and Uzbekistan • Shashmaqom, meaning “six maqoms”, constitutes a fusion of vocal and instrumental music, melodic and rhythmic idioms and poetry. • From the 1970s, many of the best-known Shashmaqom performers emigrated from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to diaspora communities in Israel and the United States.
17 Radif of Iranian music : Representative List (2009)
• The traditional repertoire of the classical music of Iran that forms the essence of Persian musical culture.
18 Pansori epic chant (Korea, 2008) Nongak: community band music, dance and rituals (Korea, 2014)
• Intangible cultural heritage is not merely valued as a cultural good, on a comparative basis, for its exclusivity or its exceptional value.
• Intangible cultural heritage thrives on its basis in communities and depends on those whose knowledge of traditions, skills and customs are passed on to the rest of the community, from generation to generation, or to other communities. (http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/en/what-is-intangible-heritage-00003)
19 It is required for mutual understanding and respect among peoples of Silk-road cultures to understand the nature of cultural diffusion and maintain the notion of cultural relativism.
20 Thank you for your attention.
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